Rescue team frees terrified dog from flooded drain

A two year-old Chihuahua/Jack Russell cross had a lucky escape today when she was rescued from a flooded drainpipe on the Trim Road outside Navan.

The dog was initially spotted on 17th October around the MDL grounds, but evaded all attempts to catch her by volunteers from the Last Hope animal charity.

After going unseen for a number of days, the volunteers assumed that the female dog had moved on.

However, on Saturday two cyclists spotted her running into a 25cm wide drainpipe buried in a ditch at the side of the road.

Last Hope volunteers Mandy Dillon, Rachel Dillon and Patricia Horkan left food in a trap close to the drainpipe in an effort to catch the terrified dog, but without success.

Following last night's heavy rainfall, there was a danger that the dog would drown after taking refuge in the enclosed space.

With the dog in a precarious position, Meath River Rescue's Martin White, Paddy Brady, Ted Boland and David Clarke joined Last Hope volunteers to coax the dog, nicknamed 'Piper', from the drainpipe.

She was finally freed at 12.30pm after a three hour rescue operation. Last Hope is now working to reunite the dog with its owner.